US Senate Republicans rejected legislation from Democrats that would have required President Donald Trump to end the US energy blockade on Cuba unless he received approval from Congress. The vote on the war powers resolution showed how Republicans continue to stand behind Trump as he acts unilaterally to exert American force in a range of global conflicts, including Venezuela, Iran and Cuba.

Democrats have repeatedly forced votes on legislation to put a check on the president’s ability to deploy military force in those conflicts, but none have succeeded. The vote was the first pertaining to Cuba and would have forced the president to get approval from Congress before launching any attacks on the island nation. To dismiss the resolution, Republicans said that it was out of order because the U.S. is not engaged in outright hostilities with Cuba.

The Caribbean island is suffering from water and power outages as the US imposes sanctions and interrupts oil shipments from Venezuela. The Trump administration is pressing Cuba’s leadership to end political repression, release political prisoners and liberalise its ailing economy.